Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TIRANA399
2008-05-23 16:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:  

THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, MAY 17-23, 2008

Tags:  PGOV PREL AL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5744
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBW RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTI #0399/01 1441604
ZNR UUUUU ZZH ZDK
R 231604Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7111
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000399 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR OPDAT, ICITAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AL

SUBJECT: THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, MAY 17-23, 2008

TIRANA 00000399 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000399

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR OPDAT, ICITAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AL

SUBJECT: THIS WEEK IN ALBANIA, MAY 17-23, 2008

TIRANA 00000399 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) The following is a weekly report prepared by Embassy
Tirana's local staff to provide political and economic context and
insight into developments in Albania.

--------------
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
--------------


2. (U) CHANGE, YES WE CAN: The newest Albanian political group, led
by former civil society activist Erjon Veliaj, made its debut on
Albania's public scene this week. Surrounded by hundreds of mostly
young supporters, Veliaj said that the goal of the movement is not
to create another traditional political party, but rather to
establish a civic alliance among successful and well-respected
regular citizens who want to revitalize Albania at this turning
point in its democratic development. The group's platform is
founded on bringing together successful professionals and
entrepreneurs who can lead the way toward new political values.
"We're not a political party. We're the non-party of non-voters,"
Veliaj said, claiming, "We want to talk about the right to dream and
the courage to hope," rising beyond the failed expectations since
the fall of communism 17 years ago. Refusing to be tied to a
conventional label of right or left and pledging to do away with
"the national sport of cynicism," Veliaj added that the mission is
to bring Albania into the club of solidly well-functioning
democracies. "To achieve this goal, Veliaj said, we have brought
together some of the brightest minds in this country. We will never
promise what we cannot do, but we will keep every promise made. This
is our New Covenant with Albania." Asked to name his top
priorities, Veliaj mentioned schools, hospitals, and Albanian
emigrants' right to vote. Asked to name his opponents, he answered:
"the party of apathetic citizens and the governance of today."


3. (U) Veliaj often notes that he believes U.S. presidential
hopeful Barack Obama is an example to follow and emulate. While
many in Albania don't notice the similarities, Veliaj's political
discourse is saturated with Obama's themes. Asked whether he
considers his national challenge similar to Obama's, Veliaj rushed
to answer: "Certainly - Change, change is our motto. Obama is our
story of inspiration." Veliaj's personal story is strikingly
similar to Obama's - raised without a father, he also began his

public career with civic action, working to mobilize marginalized
citizens. Unlike the U.S. candidate, however, he has yet to prove
his substance or skill as a political leader. Veliaj has also never
hidden his close association with SP Leader Edi Rama and their
similar styles show in Veliaj's political parlance and demeanor.
Many analysts have accused Veliaj of "style over substance," noting
that he has yet to establish himself as a successful politician
rather than community organizer. Others perceive G99 as an avenue
that exploits the split between Rama and his former coalition ally
Ilir Meta (Chair of Albania's third-largest political party, the
Movement for Socialist Integration, LSI). Aside from any
controversy, G99 represents a new development in Albania's political
scene, the true impact of which will be judged by future successes.


--------------
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
--------------


4. (U) UNDER CONSTRUCTION! TRANSPORTATION WOES: The first thing
that most newcomers to Tirana notice on their way in from the
airport is the chaotic traffic of cars and pedestrians. A series of
connecting highways, town streets, sidewalks and bridges are
currently under construction or being updated, creating a lack of
proper signage, creative parking opportunities, and some interesting
driving practices.


5. (U) Tirana's Deputy Mayor recently emphasized that the future of
Tirana is public transportation over private vehicles, and the
municipality is striving to reduce the number of cars and level of
pollution. Even though the use of public transportation has risen
over the years, its quality has not significantly improved. The
main mode of public transportation, the bus system, remains
overcrowded and uncomfortable, lacking air conditioning in the
summer months. Rates are scheduled to increase by half at the
beginning of next month. Transportation may get more expensive for
car owners too, as gas prices continue to rise.


6. (U) OIL TENDER MOVES FORWARD: The Ministry of Economy unsealed
offers this week in the public bidding for a majority stake in the
state-owned company ARMO, which produces and processes oil
derivates. Out of the 25 who had earlier expressed interest in
buying ARMO, just four companies submitted bids to acquire an 85
percent stake in the company. The highest bid was submitted by a
consortium including the U.S.-based refinery Associates of Texas and
a local Albanian company, offering $200 million and pledging a
further investment of $360 million over the next four years for

TIRANA 00000399 002.3 OF 002


rehabilitation and expansion.

7. (U) This offer was considerably higher than that of the
remaining bidders, UK oil services company Petrofac, independent
trader Vitol, and Czech-based Financial Group, Penta Investments.
Albanian authorities will now consider the offers based on both
price and investment and business plans before negotiating a
contract with the top-ranking bidder. However, the offer price will
remain the main criterion for the ranking of bids.

8. (U) Many hope this is the first step towards a happy end for
ARMO's privatization process, which has been plagued by problems.
This was the second attempt to privatize ARMO following a failed
2004 tender that did not reach the minimum price set by the
Government at $15 million. Clearly these are different times, as
interest in oil projects has increased with the price of oil. The
government was delighted that the highest offer exceeded
expectations, and was reported to be privately pleased with the
outcome following rumors of a covert attempt to expand Russian
influence through Albanian oil. The tender was generally praised as
transparent and fair, but not everybody was happy. Members of the
opposition had urged the government to postpone the procedure,
arguing that ARMO could be sold at a higher price later if the surge
in oil derivatives prices continues. Albanians have a saying, "Good
beginnings are indicative of a positive outcome," which we hope will
be proven true in this case.

--------------
ALBANIAN PERCEPTIONS
--------------


9. (U) AMERICA - THE THRILL IS THERE: The following anecdote proves
the popular saying, "Albanians are more pro-American than
Americans." An Albanian living in Austria since 1999, now an
Austrian citizen, visited the U.S. in April and had the following to
say: "One thing left an extraordinary impression from America.
Here, you feel a man like all others, no matter who you are. You
speak as you like. All are friendly and courteous. Police are very
friendly. My God, I told a cousin in New York one day, I feel like
hugging all of them for how well-behaved and caring they are. That
won't happen in Europe. Europe is very racist; I've grown wary of
it. America seems to belong to all. I am enjoying the freedom of
this place every day. In short, I will go back with the best
impressions of this country and I will always love it. I promised
myself to come here every year. As you can see, I have fallen in
love with this place, where man feels freer than in his own
country."

--------------
JOKE OF THE WEEK
--------------


9. (U) At G99's inaugural event this week, its leader Erion Veliaj
broke the ice with this joke, a reference to his opinion of the
level of trust in the government with Albanian property: A
businessman was trying to locate an on-street parking spot on
Tirana's busy main road. Finally, he parked his car right in front
of the Prime Ministry, located conveniently next door to the popular
hotel where his meeting was to be held. Security guards approached
him to say "Sir, you can't park here! Remove your car!" After a
moment's thought he answered, "Thanks anyway, but I think it's safe.
I just installed an anti-theft alarm system."

WITHERS